Counting frame



May 21, 1929; c, RPKE 1,714,106

QOUNTING FRAME Filed July 26', 1927 Patented May 2l, 1929.

i vUNITE'DSTATIJS PATENT -zoF-FICE.; 8,

" cnnrsrmnnrxn, or BREMEN, GERMANY.`

COUNTING FRAME.

yApplication filed July 26, 1927, Serial No. 208,561, and in GermanyJ'une 7, 1927.

This invention relates to a counting frame and consistsV in theprovision 'of a vertical row of horizontal shafts, andA aplurality ofindependently rotatable counting members threaded on each shaft, thecounting memf bers being adapted to hold detachable count# ing elementsin the form of plates, objects.

or the like.

Y Thecounting members are adapted to en-y gage the shaft resiliently andto be retained thereon in diferentangular positions, and detachablegrouping members for the counting members are provided. i

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing'represents a front view of kthecounting frame,

Fig. 2, anend view of the same, Fig. 3, a perspective View on anenlarged scale of one ofV the counting members according to oneconstruction, Y Fig. 4, an end view of the frame showing the attachmentof the grouping member,

Fig. 5, a perspective view onan enlarged scaleof a modilied form ofcounting member t Fig. 6, a perspective view of yet another form, and

Fig. 7, a side view of the vsame counting member complete withitscounting elements. The counting frame is composed of a vertical rowof horizontal shafts such as 1 and 2 secured by screws 4 to supportingframes 3 and'3a. Threaded on each shaft is a plurality of countingmembers which are independently rotatable, each -shaft being iitted withdetachable counting elements such as representations of actual objectschosen from within the range of experience of the child, or platesbearing figures or numbers.

Means f are provided for retaining the counting members on the shaftswith one of these objects or plates in view while the others are more orless concealed. For this purpose the shafts are preferably of polygonalcross-section and formed with as many sides as the counting members havenumeral plates or objects, the counting members being preferably in theform of'clips adapted to grip the shaft resiliently and to find aresting place on eachside of the shaft. In the illustrated arrangementtheshafts have four sides, and the counting members 5 are adapted tocarry four plates 6. s

The counting members may be of various constructions. Fig. 3 shows amember com` formed across the center with angular bends corners of theshaft.

posed of two resilient plates 5a which are.

-to t the supporting shaft, the platesibeing interconnected by rivets 8which are distanced from the bent center portions. so as to allowthelatter to yield and' snap over the of the plates are bent metalstamping, as'shown in Fig. 5. Thev stamping 10 is formed yacrjossthecenter with angular bends 14: two of which are set in one direction andone in the other, longitudinal slits being made at op osite sides of thecenter bend so as to allow t e center portions to yield. Longitudinalslits 11 are also made from the endsof the stamping` so as to formacentral arm 12 which is bent in one direction and lateral arms 13 whichare bent in the opposite direction. The arms are beaded as previouslydescribed.

The. outer portions apartso as to formk dlverging arms 5b between whichthe platesA -6 are clamped. VFor connection to the plates G, each armhask at its outer end agbead 9` 65,V

Another alternative construction is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and consists`oftwo angular plates 15 and 16 one of which is slotted across ythe bendto receive the bent portion of the other plate. The intermeshing platesare applied to the shaft whereon they tained by resilient tongues 17which are formed on the slotted plate and arranged so as to bear againstand support theother plate. In this instance the arms are formed withbeads 18 behind which one set of diametrically opposite number plates 6may be inserted, the other set of number plates being formed with hookedends adapted to engage over the beads.`

The counting members may be dividedl on the frame into groups for whichpur ose grouping members 7 are provided. uch grouping members mayvconsist of a bar the ends of which are bent back at an acute Aangle toform supporting arms'7 and 7b.

One of these arms is forked for engagement with the upper shaft 1, theother arm being placed loosely against the shaft 2.

I claim:

1. A.v counting device vcomprising a shaftl are re-V p 2 :lyrisme on,and aplurality of counting elements carried by each counting member.'

2. A counting device comprising a vertical shaft, a plurality ofindependently rotatable counting members mounted on the shaft, 'each 3.A counting device comprising `a shaft of rectangular cross-section, aplurality oi' independently rotatable counting members mounted on theshaft, each counting member having a resilient hub oi angularcrosssection to grip the shait and maintain it in any position in itsorbit of rotation thereon,

and a plurality of counting elements carried by each counting member.

41A counting device comp-rising a shaft, a plurality of independentlyrotatable counting members mounted on the shaft, each counting memberhaving a resilient hub to grip the shaft and hold it iiXed at points inits orbit of rotation thereon, and each member also having a series ofarms, and count ing elements detachably engaging said arms.

5. A counting device comprising a sha'lt, a plurality of independentlyrotatablel counting members mounted on the shaft, each counting memberhaving a resilient hub to grip the shaft and hold it in any one ot aplurality of positions, and each member also having a plurality of armsprovided with terminal engaging members, and counting elementsdetachably engaging said terminal engaging members of the arms.

G. A structure as claimed in claim 1 Wherein the shaft is of polygonalcross-section and the resilient hubs of the counting members are ofcorresponding form. v

7. A structure as claimed in claim 1 Where in the shaft is of polygonalcross-section and wherein each counting member is provided with aresilient hub to grip the sha'lt and carries as many counting elementsas there are sides on the shaft.

8. A counting device comprising superposed vertical shafts, countingmembers rotatably-mounted on said shafts, and a spacing device forseparating the members on the shafts into groups, said spacing deviceextending between and engaging the shafts.

9. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the counting members arecomposed Aof plates having beaded edges for engagement with thedetachable counting elements.

l0. A structure as claimed in claim il wherein the counting members arecomposed of plates having beaded edges Afor engagement with thedetachable counting elements, the counting members having hooked edgesfor engagement Vwith the beads.

l1. A. structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the counting members arecomposed of plates having beadededges for engagement with the detachablecounting elements, the beads being of Sshaped cross-section, thecounting elements being composed of plates adapted to engage in saidbeads from both sides.

In testimony whereof I aiiixpmy signature.

CHRISTIAN RPKE. Y

